Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics and the Environment.
Setting the Scene This section of my blog is based on a module that I validated for undergraduate students studying philosophy and/or religious studies. I was surprised that many students …
Dhal Makhani
Dhal (also spelled dal or dahl) is a staple of many Indian cuisines, eaten by rich and poor. Dhal, as a staple, has a long history in India possibly dating …
Reflection on Buddha’s Head
Introduction On our back deck we have a pot in the shape of a Buddha’s head in which we grow some ornamental grasses. We had a very good friend staying …
Religious Imagery in Folk, Outsider and Popular Art
Introduction We frequently make judgements about what is ‘good art’. However, there are no clear-cut criteria for making this distinction. This evaluation is often linked with identifying differences between fine …
Sacred Architecture
The Minakshi Temple in Madurai: The large embellished towers and the water tanks are typical features of Hindu temples in South India. (My photograph) Introduction In this post I will …
Poke Bowl
Originally from Hawaii, poke (pronounced poh keh) bowls have become one of the latest global food trends. We first encountered poke bowls in Lisbon, and there is even a poke …
Journeys to Exotic Places
Introduction I have just returned from a fascinating trip to Cambodia and Thailand. This trip was very different to my travels to India when I was in my early twenties. …
Spirituality, The Sublime and Modern Art
This is a follow up to my post on Art, Spiritualism and Theosophy. As I indicated in this earlier post, spirituality must not be confused with Spiritualism. Spiritualism suggests that …
Clothing India
This post is inspired by the excellent exhibition The Offbeat Sari at the Design Museum in London. When we think of the sari, we tend to think of it as …
Matar Paneer
A popular North Indian dish made of peas (matar) and pressed curd cheese (paneer). Ingredients 1 tsp cumin seeds1 tsp coriander seeds 15 g fresh ginger1 fresh green chilli3 cloves …